t--little broth--throw in bark--on his legs--well as ever--and so
on."

"I am indeed much better this afternoon," replied I; "indeed, so well,
that I feel as if I could get up."

"Pooh:--tumble down--never do--lie a bed--get strong--wife--Mrs
Cophagus--Japhet--old friend."

Mrs Cophagus had risen from her chair, and come towards the bed, when
her husband introduced her in his own fashion. "I am afraid that I have
been a great trouble, madam," said I.

"Japhet Newland, we have done but our duty, even if thou wert not, as it
appears that thou art, a friend of my husband. Consider me, therefore,
as thy sister, and I will regard thee as a brother; and if thou wouldst
wish it, thou shalt sojourn with us, for so hath my husband communicated
his wishes unto me."

I thanked her for her kind expressions, and took the fair hand which was
offered in such amity. Cophagus then asked me if I was well enough to
inform him of what had passed since our last meeting, and telling me
that his wife knew my whole history, and that I might speak before her,
he took his seat by the side of the bed, his wife also drew her chair
nearer, and I commenced the narrative of what had passed since we parted
in Ireland. When I had finished, Mr Cophagus commenced as usual, "Um--
very odd--lose money--bad--grow honest--good--run away from friends--
bad--not hung--good--brain fever--bad--come here--good--stay with us--
quite comfortable--and so on."

"Thou hast suffered much, friend Japhet," said Mrs Cophagus, wiping her
eyes; "and I would almost venture to say, hast been chastised too
severely, were it not that those whom He loveth, He chastiseth. Still
thou art saved, and now out of danger; peradventure thou wilt now quit a
vain world, and be content to live with us; nay, as thou hast the
example of thy former master, it may perhaps please the Lord to advise
thee to become one of us, and to join us as a Friend. My husband was
persuaded to the right path by me," continued she, looking fondly at
him; "who knoweth but some of our maidens may also persuade thee to
eschew a vain, unrighteous world, and follow thy Redeemer in humility?"

"Very true--um--very true," observed Cophagus, putting more Quakerism
than usual in his style, and drawing out his ums to treble their usual
length; "Happy life--Japhet--um--all at peace--quiet amusements--think
about it--um--no hurry--never swear--by-and-by, hell!--spirit may move--
um--not now--talk about it--g